MARK LONG
FILE - Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, center, smiles after being introduced as a starter before an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and has not practiced or played since, has entered the NCAA transfer portal with hopes of resuming his college career. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey, File)
Florida's Johnson joins transfer portal, hopes to play again

By Mark Long May. 01, 2022 08:05 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a

Florida big man, leading scorer Castleton back for 5th year

By Mark Long Apr. 11, 2022 11:45 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida big man Colin Castleton is returning for a fifth

San Francisco head coach Todd Golden applauds his team during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida's Golden rounds out coaching staff by hiring Hartman

By Mark Long Apr. 01, 2022 04:53 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Todd Golden rounded out his staff Friday

San Francisco head coach Todd Golden watches from the sideline during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida hires San Francisco's Golden as men's hoops coach

By Mark Long Mar. 18, 2022 01:57 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida hired San Francisco's Todd Golden as its basketball

Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) celebrates after they defeated Kentucky in an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round at the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
No. 9 Tennessee tops No. 5 Kentucky, reaches SEC final again

By Mark Long Mar. 12, 2022 06:25 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — No. 9 Tennessee just might be the Southeastern Conference's top

ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale poses with an autographed basketball before an NCAA college basketball game between between Texas A&M and Arkansas at the Southeastern Conference tournament Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Dick Vitale returns to court, gets recognized at SEC tourney

By Mark Long Mar. 12, 2022 01:42 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — That was awesome, baby! College basketball icon Dick

Kentucky coach John Calipari shouts at an official during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference men's tournament Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
No. 5 Kentucky tops Vanderbilt again, 77-71 in SEC tourney

By Mark Long Mar. 11, 2022 10:43 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — TyTy Washington hasn't played like this in nearly two months. He

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis (4) is double teammed by LSU guard Xavier Pinson (1) and forward Tari Eason (13) during the first half of an NCAA men's college basketball Southeastern Conference tournament game Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arkansas beats LSU for 3rd time, 79-67 in SEC Tournament

By Mark Long Mar. 11, 2022 05:07 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Au’Diese Toney, JD Notae and their Arkansas teammates watched LSU

Alabama guard Keon Ellis (14) battles for a loose ball against LSU forward Tari Eason and forward Darius Days (4) during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, March 5, 2022. LSU won 80-77. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
NBA Prospect Watch: Eason is 6th Man like no others in SEC

By Mark Long Mar. 09, 2022 03:02 PM EST
The Southeastern Conference has never had a sixth man of the year quite like LSU’s

Kentucky guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) makes a layup past Florida guard Myreon Jones (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Tshiebwe shines again, No. 7 Kentucky beats Florida 71-63

By Mark Long Mar. 05, 2022 04:26 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When Florida scored the first five points of the second half

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) smiles after being introduced as a starter before the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Florida's Johnson gets ceremonial start on senior day vs UK

By Mark Long Mar. 05, 2022 02:27 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida forward Keyontae Johnson dribbled the ball several

Arkansas guard Au'Diese Toney (5) celebrates with Davonte Davis (4) and Jaylin Williams during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
NBA Prospect Watch: Jaylin Williams on a roll for Arkansas

By Mark Long Feb. 23, 2022 01:59 PM EST
There’s no other big man in the Southeastern Conference like Jaylin Williams.

Arkansas forward Jaylin Williams (10) defends against Florida forward Colin Castleton (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
No. 18 Arkansas stays hot, gets 1st win at Florida since '95

By Mark Long Feb. 22, 2022 09:19 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Nolan Richardson, Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman were

Florida guard Tyree Appleby (22), left, talks with broadcasters as he celebrates Florida's 63-62 win over Auburn during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Appleby takes over, Florida rallies past No. 2 Auburn 63-62

By Mark Long Feb. 19, 2022 04:34 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tyree Appleby found himself swarmed by students, fans and

Arkansas players JD Notae (1) and Jaylin Williams (10) celebrate with fans after defeating Auburn 80-76 in overtime during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
SEC's leading scorer JD Notae showing off well-rounded game

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2022 11:45 AM EST
JD Notae was the best player inside Arkansas' Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night,

Florida center Jason Jitoboh (33) is lead from the court after being injured on a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Already-thin Florida loses big man Jitoboh for season

By Mark Long Jan. 28, 2022 05:53 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Already-thin Florida will be without center Jason Jitoboh

Auburn forward Jabari Smith (10) looks for an open shot as Kentucky forward Keion Brooks Jr. (12) and forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn's Jabari Smith considered a top-5 pick, may go No. 1

By Mark Long Jan. 26, 2022 02:08 PM EST
Don’t judge Jabari Smith by his most recent game. The 6-foot-10

LSU center Efton Reid (15) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Days scores 20 near home, No. 12 LSU beats Florida 64-58

By Mark Long Jan. 12, 2022 09:42 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Darius Days was mostly miserable during his last two trips

Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (34) tries to shoot as Georgia's Jabri Abdur-Rahim (1) and Tyron McMillan (4) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Kentucky's Tshiebwe wants 'my name to be remembered forever'

By Mark Long Jan. 12, 2022 01:02 PM EST
Kentucky’s offense now runs through big man Oscar Tshiebwe. Already

Florida forward Colin Castleton (12) celebrates with guard Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (24), guard Myreon Jones (0) and forward CJ Felder (1) after blocking an Alabama shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
No. 15 Alabama uses big 2nd-half run to beat Florida 83-70

By Mark Long Jan. 05, 2022 09:29 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Alabama coach Nate Oats challenged his guys at halftime to